At 24, I married a wealthy 40-year-old widower who had two daughters. I took great care of this family, but the troublesome Leah constantly ostracized me. What was even more unbearable was that my husband Marlene turned out to be a "brother-supporter," raising an exceptional younger brother who was plotting to seize my inheritance...
The first snow of 2018 marked the arrival of winter, plunging the world into a deep freeze. My life mirrored this sudden drop in temperature, spiraling downhill in a way I hadn't expected.
The man I had dated for three years-whom I believed to be my one true love, my destined partner-left me for another woman. She wasn't as attractive as I was, but she came from money, and he didn't hesitate to dump me for her.
Fresh out of college with a degree in accounting, I had finally landed a job after much effort. But three months into my internship, just as I was expecting a permanent offer, my male supervisor hinted that I'd need to "do something extra" to secure the position. Disgusted and fed up, I quit without a second thought.
These two blows-"cheating ex" and "workplace harassment"-were punches I couldn't dodge. They left me bruised, battered, and reeling.
For me, life's hardships came in sudden waves, like stars scattered in the dark skies of chaos.
Walking alone in the snow, with my savings drained, I made a vow to myself, "No more struggling. I'm going to marry rich!"
Two months later, I did exactly that. I had a whirlwind romance with a bank executive I met online, and we got married after just two months of dating.
Oh, right, I should introduce myself. My name was Grace Harper, and my new husband was Alfred Reed.
As for me, despite my humble origins, I'd always carried myself with a certain poise. Years spent devouring books in the library gave me a refined air. At 24, I was in the prime of my youth-elegant, radiant, and exuding a fresh charm.
Alfred, on the other hand, was over forty. His face bore the marks of time and hardship, with deep wrinkles adding years to his already unimpressive appearance. His greasy complexion, protruding belly, and stocky frame made him resemble a pudgy caricature, standing shorter than me to boot.
My friends didn't shy away from teasing me, saying I could have done so much better.
But I didn't care. Alfred was wealthy, had a decent personality, and treated me exceptionally well. During our courtship, he showered me with gifts-a three-bedroom apartment for my parents, a car for me, and lavish displays of affection.
I was content, even grateful. Love wasn't part of the equation, but I had no regrets about marrying him. After all, in the face of financial security, love could step aside.
However, Alfred had kept some things hidden from me. For one, he had two daughters from a previous marriage. These girls-whom he had assured me didn't exist-were very much alive and wreaking havoc in his home.
His excuse? He claimed his first wife, Marlene Atkinson, had died in childbirth, and they had no children together. That latter part, clearly, was a lie.
But deception aside, life had to go on. I moved into Alfred's house, taking on the role of the lady of the house. Complaining or staging dramatic protests about his kids wasn't my style.
The real trouble began when his older daughter decided to put me in my place shortly after the wedding.
The younger one, Luna, only two years old, was a sweet and easygoing child. The elder, Leah, however, was seven and a handful. Having lost her mother, she clung to memories of her and lashed out in grief-fueled defiance.
According to Alfred, Leah had always been difficult-spoiled rotten by his late wife, who indulged her every whim. Over time, she became a bratty, headstrong "little princess."
There was a saying that went, "Some people don't have the life of a princess but still catch the princess syndrome."
That described her perfectly.
I was soft-hearted and conflict-averse, so I didn't dare discipline her. Every time she threw a tantrum, I endured it in silence.
But the first day I visited Alfred's house before our marriage, she made sure to let me know I wasn't welcome.
That day, as I walked through the door, Leah greeted me with a frosty glare. The cheerful expression she'd worn earlier disappeared in an instant, replaced by a look as cold as steel. Her hostility was palpable, but I decided to cut her some slack-she'd lost her mother, after all.
Determined to win her over, I thought, "Kids love sweets. Maybe I'll buy her some treats to break the ice."
So, I went to the nearest grocery store and filled a large bag with goodies: potato chips, cookies, popcorn, and chocolate-everything a child could want.
I returned to her room with great enthusiasm, carrying the bag of snacks. I placed it on her desk, smiling warmly.
She didn't even glance at it. Without a word, she walked to the desk, her small hands reaching the bag. She yanked it off the table with some effort, shuffling across the floor like a small animal struggling with a load far too heavy for it.
Confused, I watched as she dragged the bag out of the room and left it beside the tall trash bin by the front door.
She then attempted to lift the bag and dump it into the bin. To her, however, it was as heavy as a mountain. After several failed attempts, she flew into a fit of rage.
Her small eyes widened into angry orbs, her cheeks flushed bright red, and she began stomping on the bag with both feet. As she jumped and stomped, the sound of the bag ripping and snacks cracking filled the air.
In less than a minute, the entire bag of snacks lay utterly destroyed, a flattened pile of crumbs.
The smile froze on my face, hanging awkwardly for a moment before I regained my composure.
Standing beside me, Alfred scratched the back of his head, visibly embarrassed, and forced a sheepish grin.
I mirrored his awkward smile, moving my lips just enough to appear polite. Seeing my calm reaction, he muttered apologetically, "Leah is... like this. Her mother spoiled her rotten. Don't take it to heart-you'll get used to it. In time, I'm sure she'll warm up to you. She still needs your care, after all. Luna is much better. If you don't believe me, come and meet her."
With that, he led me to meet his younger daughter.
The little one, only two years old, wore a diaper and had her hair styled in a tiny braid. She crawled around aimlessly on the floor, much like a playful kitten.
Noticing a streak of snot running down her small nose, I pulled out a handkerchief and crouched down to gently wipe it off.
Alfred's expression softened into a relieved smile. Seeing how well I got along with his younger daughter, the room seemed to lighten. The harmonious scene soothed his frustration over his eldest daughter's behavior, and his mood visibly improved.
However, Alfred, despite his mild demeanor and unassuming appearance, was not one to let things slide. Practical and sharp, he quickly deduced the fault lay with the nanny.
He turned to the nanny, who had been standing nearby, and scolded her sharply. "What kind of job are you doing? You're supposed to take care of the kids, and you don't even notice when her face is dirty? Is that what I'm paying you for?"
His stern words left the nanny trembling, her face pale with fear.
“You need a bride, I need a groom. Why don’t we get married?” Both abandoned at the altar, Elyse decided to tie the knot with the disabled stranger from the venue next door. Pitying his state, she vowed to spoil him once they were married. Little did she know that he was actually a powerful tycoon. Jayden thought Elyse only married him for his money, and planned to divorce her when she was no longer of use to him. But after becoming her husband, he was faced with a new dilemma. “She keeps asking for a divorce, but I don’t want that! What should I do?”
Mia's life is spiraling out of control. Abandoned by her mother, bullied mercilessly at school, and thrown into a household of four dangerously attractive stepbrothers, she's desperate to find her footing. "You look absolutely edible," Sean growled, his eyes devouring her. Mia felt a rush of heat between her thighs "Oh, you think so?" she purred, turning to face him. She reached out and traced her fingers along the ribbon that wrapped around his waist. "Well, I've been waiting for this all day. And I'm starving." Sean's smile grew into a predatory grin. "Then let us feast," he said, and in a flash, the ribbon fell away, exposing his rock-hard length. He stepped closer, and Mia felt the warmth of his breath on her face as he whispered, "You're going to take every inch of us tonight, aren't you?" With Rolex's teasing smirk and Sean's quiet, hot stares, Mia doesn't know where to turn-or who to trust. Every glance, every touch leaves her breathless, confused, and craving more than she should. Will Mia survive their games, or will she lose herself in a dangerous world of secrets, seduction, and forbidden desire? One house. Four brothers. Endless temptation.
After three secretive years of marriage, Eliana never met her enigmatic husband until she was served with divorce papers and learned of his extravagant pursuit of another. She snapped back to reality and secured a divorce. Thereafter, Eliana unveiled her various personas: an esteemed doctor, legendary secret agent, master hacker, celebrated designer, adept race car driver, and distinguished scientist. As her diverse talents became known, her ex-husband was consumed by remorse. Desperately, he pleaded, "Eliana, give me another chance! All my properties, even my life, are yours."
The day Lilah found out that she was pregnant, she caught her fiancé cheating on her. Her remorseless fiancé and his mistress almost killed her. Lilah fled for her dear life. When she returned to her hometown five years later, she happened to save a little boy's life. The boy's father turned out to be the world's richest man. Everything changed for Lilah from that moment. The man didn't let her experience any inconvenience. When her ex-fiancé bullied her, he crushed the scumbag's family and also rented out an entire island just to give Lilah a break from all the drama. He also taught Lilah's hateful father a lesson. He crushed all her enemies before she even asked. When Lilah's vile sister threw herself at him, he showed her a marriage certificate and said, "I'm happily married and my wife is much more beautiful than you are!" Lilah was shocked. "When did we ever get married? Last I checked, I was still single." With a wicked smile, he said, "Honey, we've been married for five years. Isn't it about time we had another child together?" Lilah's jaw dropped to the floor. What the hell was he talking about?
Janet was adopted when she was a kid -- a dream come true for orphans. However, her life was anything but happy. Her adoptive mother taunted and bullied her all her life. Janet got the love and affection of a parent from the old maid who raised her. Unfortunately, the old woman fell ill, and Janet had to marry a worthless man in place of her parents' biological daughter to meet the maid's medical expenses. Could this be a Cinderella's tale? But the man was far from a prince, except for his handsome appearance. Ethan was the illegitimate son of a wealthy family who lived a reckless life and barely made ends meet. He got married to fulfill his mother's last wish. However, on his wedding night, he had an inkling that his wife was different from what he had heard about her. Fate had united the two people with deep secrets. Was Ethan truly the man we thought he was? Surprisingly, he bore an uncanny resemblance to the impenetrable wealthiest man in the city. Would he find out that Janet married him in place of her sister? Would their marriage be a romantic tale or an utter disaster? Read on to unravel Janet and Ethan's journey.
After being kicked out of her home, Harlee learned she wasn't the biological daughter of her family. Rumors had it that her impoverished biological family favored sons and planned to profit from her return. Unexpectedly, her real father was a zillionaire, catapulting her into immense wealth and making her the most cherished member of the family. While they anticipated her disgrace, Harlee secretly held design patents worth billions. Celebrated for her brilliance, she was invited to mentor in a national astronomy group, drew interest from wealthy suitors, and caught the eye of a mysterious figure, ascending to legendary status.